Court renovation works delay Stella Nyanzi trial

Grade One Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu said she could not sit in a dirty court and subsequently adjourned the matter until May 9

Stella Nyanzi pictured during a recent court appearance has spent close to six months on remand. File Photo

Grade One Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu said she could not sit in a dirty court and subsequently adjourned the matter until May 9

Former Makerere University researcher Dr Stella Nyanzi is likely to stay longer on remand unless she chooses to exercise her constitutional right to bail.

On Tuesday, hearing of the case in which she is accused of indecent communication against President Yoweri Museveni, again hit a snag for the third time over renovation works at the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court where she is currently standing trial.

When the case came up for hearing on Tuesday, the trial Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu said that she could not sit in a dirty court and subsequently adjourned the matter until May 9.

This, however, did not go down well with Nyanzi and her lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde who said the development was unfortunate.

Nyanzi who is battling two counts of cyber harassment and offensive communication had opted not to apply for bail until the conclusion of her case.

The mother of three has been on remand since November last year when she was arraigned in court over the charges.

The prosecution alleges that on September 16, 2018, Nyanzi posted indecent words on her Facebook wall against the President and his late mother.

According to the prosecution, the said posts were intended to disturb their peace, quiet and right to privacy.

The law

Under the law, Any person who willfully and repeatedly uses electronic communication to disturb or attempts to disturb the peace or right of privacy of any person with no purpose of legitimate communication is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 24 currency points or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both.

In regard to Cyber Harassment, a person who willfully, maliciously and repeatedly uses electronic communication to harass another person and makes a threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear for his or her safety or to a member of that person’s immediate family commits the crime of cyberstalking and is liable to a fine or imprisonment term not exceeding five years or both.